If you compare the traineeship across several German states, you find differences in trainee pay, in state benefit (Beihilfe) and in maintenance allowance (Unterhaltsbeihilfe) for law trainees. This comparison puts the figures side by side and shows how reliable each figure is. Key terms: traineeship (Referendariat) and civil servant status (Beamtenverhältnis).
Short answer: The A 13 basic amount in 2026 ranges from about 1,708 euros in Saarland to about 1,869 euros in Hesse, a gap of roughly 161 euros per month. State benefit is usually 50 percent, and Hesse pays more. A flat-rate benefit model exists in several states according to secondary sources. Last updated: October 2026.
The most important points
- The highest A 13 basic amount in the table is in Hesse, the lowest in Saarland. We mark figures from bills and dbb tables subject to confirmation.
- The regular state benefit rate for trainees is 50 percent. Hesse uses higher rates, which are set out in its official leaflet.
- A flat-rate benefit (pauschale Beihilfe) is an election model in several states. The rules differ widely, so check the conditions.
- For law trainees, only the maintenance allowance in North Rhine-Westphalia is officially verified and given as a figure.
- A state with a high basic amount may still be worse off overall once rent, insurance and benefit are counted. Compare the whole package.
Teaching and law: two different systems
In teacher training you receive trainee pay, made up of the basic amount and, where applicable, a family allowance. Depending on the state, you are either a probationary civil servant or in a public-law training relationship. In law training, many states call the payment a maintenance allowance. Its amount follows separate ordinances and is not the same as the trainee basic amount.
For North Rhine-Westphalia the maintenance allowance is verified: 1,585.17 euros gross per month as the basic amount, plus family allowance, as of 1 April 2026. The ordinance applies until 28 February 2027, and further stages are planned after that. For the other states we have no current, verified figure, so we give none. The responsible office is the higher regional court of your district or the state examination office, depending on the state.
Table 1: basic amount A 13 and gap to Hesse
The table shows the monthly gross basic amount in pay grade A 13. The right-hand column shows how much less each state pays compared with Hesse. The calculation is a difference between basic amounts, without family allowance and without special payments.
| State | A 13 (euros gross/month) | Gap to Hesse (euros/month) |
|---|---|---|
| Baden-Württemberg | 1,786.46 | 82.50 euros |
| Bayern | 1,795.21 | 73.75 euros |
| Berlin | 1,807.47 | 61.49 euros |
| Brandenburg | 1,800.10 | 68.86 euros |
| Bremen | 1,790.97 | 77.99 euros |
| Hamburg | 1,827.17 | 41.79 euros |
| Hessen | 1,868.96 | highest value |
| Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | 1,772.80 | 96.16 euros |
| Niedersachsen | 1,722.66 | 146.30 euros |
| Nordrhein-Westfalen | 1,793.28 | 75.68 euros |
| Rheinland-Pfalz | 1,806.71 | 62.25 euros |
| Saarland | 1,707.82 | 161.14 euros |
| Sachsen | not verified | not calculable |
| Sachsen-Anhalt | 1,744.00 | 124.96 euros |
| Schleswig-Holstein | 1,806.53 | 62.43 euros |
| Thüringen | 1,803.92 | 65.04 euros |
Saxony is missing because its basic amount is not verified. Some values come from drafts or dbb tables subject to confirmation. More on this is in the guide on traineeship pay by state (in German).
Table 2: state benefit during the traineeship
State benefit is the employer’s reimbursement of medical costs for civil servants. The table shows the standard rate for trainees and whether a flat-rate benefit is offered according to secondary sources. The flat-rate column is therefore only an indication, not official information.
| State | Trainee benefit rate | Flat-rate benefit (per secondary sources) |
|---|---|---|
| Baden-Württemberg | 50 percent | yes |
| Bayern | 50 percent | no |
| Berlin | 50 percent | yes |
| Brandenburg | 50 percent | yes |
| Bremen | 50 percent | yes |
| Hamburg | 50 percent | yes |
| Hessen | 70 percent outpatient and dental, 85 percent inpatient | no |
| Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | 50 percent | yes |
| Niedersachsen | 50 percent | yes |
| Nordrhein-Westfalen | 50 percent | no |
| Rheinland-Pfalz | 50 percent | no |
| Saarland | 50 percent | no |
| Sachsen | 50 percent without children, 70 percent with one child | unclear |
| Sachsen-Anhalt | 50 percent | yes |
| Schleswig-Holstein | 50 percent | unclear |
| Thüringen | 50 percent | yes |
Comparing on the basic amount alone falls short. What matters is what stays with you each month and what you pay yourself for medical costs. A state with a higher basic amount and a lower benefit rate can end up worse off overall if your tariff costs more. That is why the whole package matters, not a single column.
What a flat-rate benefit means
With the flat-rate model, you receive a fixed monthly amount toward your health insurance contribution instead of reimbursement per invoice. Who receives it, and under which conditions, differs strongly. According to secondary sources, Hamburg has used its model since 1 August 2018, and the choice is irrevocable. In Lower Saxony the choice is binding, with a one-year exclusion period. In Saxony-Anhalt, according to deutsche-beamtenversorgung.de, the option since 1 January 2026 is only for voluntary statutory members and can be withdrawn with three months’ notice.
These details come from secondary sources and have not been checked everywhere. Before deciding, read the state benefit ordinance and ask the benefit office. Our overview of the models is in Flat-rate benefit for trainees: which states offer it.
Worked example: benefit in Hesse
Assumption: an outpatient medical invoice is 200 euros. In Hesse, outpatient services carry a benefit rate of 70 percent, and your tariff covers the rest. The benefit is then 140 euros, and 60 euros remain as your own share. For inpatient services, the leaflet sets the higher rate of 85 percent.
| Step (assumption) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Outpatient invoice | 200.00 euros |
| Benefit at 70 percent | 140.00 euros |
| Own share via the tariff | 60.00 euros |
Frequently asked questions
Is pay in Hesse automatically the best?
The basic amount is highest there, but the whole package also depends on benefit, health insurance, housing costs and family situation. Work out your own case before you choose a location.
Why are the benefit differences so large?
Each state sets its own benefit with its own rates, exceptions and election models. There is therefore no single rule for all states.
Can I take a flat-rate benefit with me when I move between states?
Not automatically. When you move to another state, the rules of the new state apply. The guide on moving is the guide on traineeship in another state.
Where do I find binding figures for my state?
In your pay notice and in your state’s official gazette. The benefit office answers questions on benefit, and the pay office on pay.
What to do now
- Build your comparison: enter the figures for your states in your own table and always use the same positions.
- Check the status of each figure: official, draft or dbb table subject to confirmation.
- Clarify benefit with the benefit office before you choose a location.
- Calculate your health insurance contributions with a concrete offer or with your health insurer.
Related guides
- Traineeship pay 2026 by state (in German)
- State benefit in North Rhine-Westphalia
- State benefit in Hesse
- Traineeship in another state
- Flat-rate benefit for trainees
Sources: Saarland pay law, Annex VI (Official Gazette Part I No. 24, 25 June 2026), Ordinance on monthly maintenance allowance, North Rhine-Westphalia (status 1 April 2026), Leaflet on the Hesse benefit ordinance, Regierungspräsidium Kassel (May 2026), tax calculator of the Federal Ministry of Finance (accessed October 2026).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
